Protecting Same-Sex Marriage in Virginia 

September 30, 2026

Today marks the last day of Sexual Freedom Month. To conclude this special time of celebration and advocacy, we at the Woodhull Freedom Foundation wanted to focus on something that makes us hopeful for the future of our fundamental human right to sexual freedom: a proposed amendment on Virginia’s ballot.

At present, Virginia’s state constitution bans same-sex marriage, though that ban has been unenforceable since 2014. But the constitution might change in November; the proposed amendment on Virginia’s ballot would repeal the state’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and create an affirmative right to marriage between two consenting adults, regardless of their sex, gender, or race. This would mean that even if the Supreme Court overturns Obergefell, Virginians would retain their right to marriage regardless of sex or gender.

The amendment is not a shoo-in. There are plenty of people who, unfortunately, oppose marriage equality for same-sex couples. Often, those people are relying upon myths about the LGBTQ+ community, particularly those rooted in misinformation about sexual orientation – myths that we at Woodhull have meticulously fact-checked and disproven.

But experts are optimistic that the amendment will pass. Across the U.S., support for marriage equality is high: approximately 65 percent of Americans support marriage equality. In Virginia, marriage equality advocates think there’s a similar showing of support. According to Narissa Rahaman, executive director of Equality Virginia and campaign manager for Virginians for Marriage Equality, people “are excited to not only vote for it, but to do what they can to help get out the vote.”

We at Woodhull dedicate our work to protecting and expanding our fundamental human right to sexual freedom year-round. We are happy to see that Virginians will soon have an opportunity to protect marriage equality.